I ran the Metalcloak full game changer kit on my last JK. I went through 2 sets of shocks before replacing the 6 paks with Rancho 9000 then Fox. Went through 2 sets of rear springs, 3 duraflex bushings separated, which caused a lot of for aft play. I did the regrease procedure after about a year. Phone rep said they were not separated and that the retaining washers just scored the rubber. Nope, 3 were completely separated. I could see the metal ball through the disintegrated rubber. One was even missing a retaining washer altogether. I ended up replacing them with good ole bonded rubber clevite bushings before selling.
Now I am running Johnny joints with real good luck. They have been tight after about a year of running. All I do is squirt some grease into them periodically, which is so much easier than removing each arm every year for service. If you are going to be doing some basic trails, the MC kit should be fine, but if you have any intentions of doing some harder trails, you would be served better with the Evo Enforcer. I have experienced Evolander do some crazy stuff with only lower front arms (johnny joints) and the rest stock arms with only about a 3” lift.
Metalcloak has very good customer service, but so does Evo. This is just my 2 cents. Take it for what it’s worth, probably not much, but I quickly outgrew the Metalcloak kit and now run arms with Johnny Joints. I got my money’s worth out of the Metalcloak kit which was about 2 1/2 years.
The community here can be tough, but they know what works when run hard. We are just trying to share our experiences, so others can spend their money wisely for whatever is the intended purpose.
Good luck.
So to sum up, we have guys that run metalcloak that arent happy and wanting to upgrade, we have guys that run metalcloak recommending Johnny Joints, We have guys running evo, recommending evo, guys running metalcloak wishing they had evo, and guys running metalcloak who couldnt find evo but didn't like AEV, RE, or TerrorFlex (ALL of which equipt notoriously HARD springs) evo comes with Johnny Joint control arms, AND we know evo tests their products to hell and back... Metalcloak well, doesnt. they think 30mph on a dirt road is "Hard Driving"; meanwhile evo is running there parts 100MPH++ through the burning desert :cheesy: (old timers will get the reference) and some of the toughest offroad trails on the planet... the evo enforcer stage 2 kit is STILL cheaper, and STILL replaces what is necessary PLUS the added bonus of the rear uppers.
... Seems the choice at this point should be easy... :thinking:
The enforcer stage 3 is what you want if you want all the bells and whistles. Nice to have, sure. But NECESSARY? FAR from.
Lets be fair, the "guys" that want to upgrade, recommending JJs, and wishing they had Evo was all the same guy.
Not to say Evo isn't a good kit. I wouldn't know either way. The only Evo product I have is an ARB mount. I am just sharing my experience with them.
:thinking: I don't know what you are talking about. If you don't like MC, great, don't buy their stuff. Doesn't bother me. I was just giving my experience with them. I didn't come here to argue or say my stuff is the best stuff everyone should buy what I bought. If I had a bad experience I would post that as well. :beer:
Funny, I don't see it that way. Sticking to MSRP listed on their websites, my kit is $2,399.00 The equivalent Evo kit is also $2,399.99 but does not include track bars (needed or not) nor does it come with shocks or front shock relocation brackets. Again needed or not they are not included.
So getting more product (needed or not) for the same amount of money. Including shocks that are needed.... I still don't feel f'ed. Sorry I bought something different than you.
Hmm So using your logic you also got F'ed. You paid I'm guessing near $3600 to have less ground clearance (long arms) and the same or worse flex (Bilstein 5100) than I am getting for $1,200 less.
Now, I am not going to say you shouldn't have done that. I don't give a hoot. Just pointing out that we have similar builds. Around four inches, 37" tires, and can probably go the same places. I just happened to have saved more in one area of my build.
Not that DWiggles needs stuck up for, but how do you figure less clearance with the long arm kit? You don't know what you're talking about. And worse flex? :thinking: Do you know anything about LA kits? I think you should step away from the keyboard before you make yourself look any dumber.
I dunno man, my long arms totally limit my flex.
This is to say nothing about how little clearance I have. I can barely make it over the speed bumps at the mall :idontknow:
Ok ok ok. Lets all twist my words to make me sound dumber than I really am. Eddie you have mucho flex with your coilovers that allow for what, 18 inches of travel? He does not. He has 5100s with about 11.5 inches of travel. You also have more lift and taller tires than either of us have. So your ground clearance is much higher.
I get it lets all bash the guy with something different. Cool, no issues there. I probably deserve it. But all things being equal. 4" of lift and normal everyday shocks and 37" tires he has about the same flex I have and his arms hang closer to the ground.
You also have more lift and taller tires than either of us have. So your ground clearance is much higher.
Ok ok ok. Lets all twist my words to make me sound dumber than I really am. Eddie you have mucho flex with your coilovers that allow for what, 18 inches of travel? He does not. He has 5100s with about 11.5 inches of travel. You also have more lift and taller tires than either of us have. So your ground clearance is much higher.
I get it lets all bash the guy with something different. Cool, no issues there. I probably deserve it.
But all things being equal. 4" of lift and normal everyday shocks and 37" tires he has about the same flex I have and his arms hang closer to the ground.